by Big Al Staff
Sunday, Aug 01, 2021Sunday MLB ESPN Preview: Boston Red Sox versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET to conclude their three-game series. The Rays won their third straight game in a 9-5 victory against the Red Sox. Rookie Wander Franco gave Tampa Bay the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a triple before producing a run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ji-Man Choi and Francisco Mejia both clubbed home runs.
The win elevated the Rays into first place in the American League East with a 63-42 record. They have won eight of their last 11 games.
Manager Kevin Cash’s team averages 5.0 runs per game, with a .233 batting average, a .309 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .716. Brandon Lowe leads the team with 22 home runs. He has 52 RBIs and a .223 batting average. Randy Arozarena is hitting .257 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs. Auston Meadows has 20 homers and a team-leading 76 RBIs that accompany his .242 batting average.
Shane McClanahan takes the mound for Tampa Bay tonight. The left-hander gave up three runs in six innings of work in his last start against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. He has a 4-4 record this season with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The Rays’ bullpen has a 3.17 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. They have earned 27 saves and blown 11 of their save opportunities.
Boston is out of first place in the AL East for the first time since June 28th. They have allowed 29 runs during their three-game losing streak. Their pitching staff has had a team ERA of 4.93 since the All-Star break. They have a league-leading 32 comeback victories this season.
The Red Sox got home runs from Xander Bogaerts and Bobby Dalbec in their losing effort on Saturday. Manager Alex Cora’s team averages 5.0 runs per game, with a .257 batting average, .315 On-Base Percentage, and an OPS of .755. Bogaerts leads the team with a .309 batting average. He has added 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. Rafael Devers leads Boston with 27 homers and 87 RBIs. He is hitting .286. J.D. Martinez is hitting .289 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs.
Nick Pivetta takes the ball for Boston tonight. The right-hander has an 8-4 record with a 4.51 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in 20 starts. He pitched last Monday at home against Toronto, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. The Red Sox bullpen has a 3.70 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The pen has collected 34 saves but blown 14 save opportunities after yesterday’s setback.
Boston gets tomorrow off before continuing their ten-game road trip with a three-game series in Detroit against the Tigers. Tampa Bay hosts Seattle tomorrow in Game 1 of their three-game series with the Mariners that concludes a nine-game homestand.
DraftKings lists Tampa Bay as a -170 money line favorite, with the total set at 9.
The Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET to conclude their three-game series. The Rays won their third straight game in a 9-5 victory against the Red Sox. Rookie Wander Franco gave Tampa Bay the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a triple before producing a run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ji-Man Choi and Francisco Mejia both clubbed home runs.
The win elevated the Rays into first place in the American League East with a 63-42 record. They have won eight of their last 11 games.
Manager Kevin Cash’s team averages 5.0 runs per game, with a .233 batting average, a .309 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .716. Brandon Lowe leads the team with 22 home runs. He has 52 RBIs and a .223 batting average. Randy Arozarena is hitting .257 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs. Auston Meadows has 20 homers and a team-leading 76 RBIs that accompany his .242 batting average.
Shane McClanahan takes the mound for Tampa Bay tonight. The left-hander gave up three runs in six innings of work in his last start against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. He has a 4-4 record this season with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The Rays’ bullpen has a 3.17 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. They have earned 27 saves and blown 11 of their save opportunities.
Boston is out of first place in the AL East for the first time since June 28th. They have allowed 29 runs during their three-game losing streak. Their pitching staff has had a team ERA of 4.93 since the All-Star break. They have a league-leading 32 comeback victories this season.
The Red Sox got home runs from Xander Bogaerts and Bobby Dalbec in their losing effort on Saturday. Manager Alex Cora’s team averages 5.0 runs per game, with a .257 batting average, .315 On-Base Percentage, and an OPS of .755. Bogaerts leads the team with a .309 batting average. He has added 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. Rafael Devers leads Boston with 27 homers and 87 RBIs. He is hitting .286. J.D. Martinez is hitting .289 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs.
Nick Pivetta takes the ball for Boston tonight. The right-hander has an 8-4 record with a 4.51 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in 20 starts. He pitched last Monday at home against Toronto, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. The Red Sox bullpen has a 3.70 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The pen has collected 34 saves but blown 14 save opportunities after yesterday’s setback.
Boston gets tomorrow off before continuing their ten-game road trip with a three-game series in Detroit against the Tigers. Tampa Bay hosts Seattle tomorrow in Game 1 of their three-game series with the Mariners that concludes a nine-game homestand.
DraftKings lists Tampa Bay as a -170 money line favorite, with the total set at 9.
